Do You Know How to Create Book Sales? Contents The Resource 1

The Resource
Vol. 3, No. 2
Contents
Do You Know How to Create ...
Page 1
1
A Book Publishing News eZine
www.AuthorU.org
Do You Know How to Create Book Sales?
Judith Briles, Author U Founder
What’s New What’s Old
Page 6
CalmUp for Authors
Page 7
Upcoming Dates
Page 8
Death by Buzz Words
Page 10
Book Smarts
Page 11
Why Does It Take So Long ...
Page 13
How to Be a Star
Page 16
Webinars R Us
Page 17
Marty’s Corner
Page 18
The New PR
Page 19
Member News
Page 21
New Members
Page 23
What’s Your Social Media ...
Page 25
What to Do with a Wet Cell Phone
Page 26
Dealing with the Author Overwhelm
Page 27
Writing a Press Release
Page 29
So What are We Doing with It?
Page 34
17 Fun Freebies
Page 35
Do your book buyers know how to find you? Do you
know where your book sales come from? Do you know
how to pitch your book? Maybe ... Maybe not. After
last month’s Maverick Marketing BookCamp, it’s clear
that this thing called selling books is in the author’s
hands—think proactive, proactive, proactive. Book
sales and deals are not going to come an your way
while you wait for the phone to ring or for an email or
letter in your mailbox unless you—that author—get
your game in play.
How do you do that? Visibility! Start with the type of
book you have. Is it business? Piece of cake—there
are main media outlets looking for stories. Think CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox
News, your local news—including print and TV and radio. Who do contact?—
writers of the business section (go online and read the paper if you don’t
subscribe); call the news department of the TV station; for national shows,
call and ask who the contact is to pitch/tell/share a hot story lead to (sometimes called the booker); for radio, call the station and ask who the producer
is for any show that covers current news on air.
Scan the daily paper—what’s the news? Hook your book to it—pitch. At the
BookCamp, there was a front page story about how minorities were being
discriminated against in the lending arena in the New York Times that morning. Member Steve Replin has a book—Where To Go When the Bank Says
NO—it screams of a tie-in and pitch. He’s got the answers ... he has to tell
the media so. Steve’s got a website (www.HardMoneyBooks.com). If he lands
anything, he can ask that it be included; he can also let viewers, listeners and readers know that his
book is available on Amazon.
That’s traditional media that would
be used to market a book. Your real
game-on will be through the non-traditional route—Blogging, Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and
LinkedIn Groups. YouTube is the #1
Continued on page 2 ....
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Do You Know How: Continued from page 1 ....
TV channel—are you on it? Are you working on building your followers on
Facebook and Twitter? How about a consistent Blog that goes out every
week (or a few times a week)? Have you explored the groups on LinkedIn
and begun to test the Google+ waters? Instead of investing in the traditional “publicist” to get on TV and radio—you can get someone for far less
money to develop a social media campaign to get your name out there ...
and your book.
It was asked—said—several times, “My book is fiction ... I don’t know how
to market it.” Here’s my response—what separates fiction from non-fiction
is traditional publicity channels. Let’s face it: unless you are HUGE in fiction, the media isn’t going to care about your masterpiece. Otherwise, your
reach-out game is on.
How do you market it? The answer is visibility. Fiction authors must create
the same type of fan base that the non-fiction author does. Let me repeat a
portion of the paragraph above: Your real game-on will be through the nontraditional route—Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+. YouTube
is the #1 TV channel—are you on it? Are you working on building your
followers on Facebook and Twitter? How about a consistent Blog that goes
out every week (or a few times a week)?
Instead of investing in the traditional “publicist” to get on TV and radio—you
can get someone for far less money to develop a social media campaign to
get your name out there ... and your book.
Both types of books have genres—where are the Blogs that are within
them? Find them. Google “top blogs” in your genre. Go there. Make comments. Create a plan to do a virtual book tour. Member Mara Purl did and
discovered to her pleasure that her Blog partners over a month’s period of
time landed her book, What the Heart Knows, in front of 17 million readers.
In the January issue of the Resource, the BookSmarts column was all about
creating virtual book tours—did you read it? Did you order the book that
was recommended within it?
You do the same for Facebook and Twitter—there are a significant number
of fan/business pages that will be dedicated to your genre on Facebook;
there is a Twitter Directory—find it and use it. Then there’s Skype—you can
have a “Booktail” party with fans that gather in a location and connect with
you. Possibilities. Possibilities. Possibilities.
The reality is that most people buy—anything they buy—based on emotions. When they are seeking help, you want them to think of your book as
a product that provides an answer—be it to fixing something, resolving an
issue or entertainment. The seeker is most likely in the “buy” mode. Are you
visible? Are you reachable? Can you be found with a few key words and a
computer?
The Internet has changed a lot of the rules of yesterday ... yesteryear. It’s
fast forward time ... your book—today, it’s all about being “out there”—
Continued on page 3 ....
Savvy Authors Who
Want Their Books to
Soar Think ...
Author U stretches members
to a higher level. Some will be
publishers, some will not, but
ALL will learn and grow.
Author U shows YOU, the
author, how to be the best you
think you can be . . . and then
how to to be even more than
you thought you could be.
Learn the ropes to become
a publisher yourself.
Heading to NY? Receive
strategies that will hook
both publisher and agent.
Continue to learn and
meet terrific people and
achieve success. Author U
is waiting for you.
Success comes from hard
work, careful planning,
learning your craft, and being
in the right place at the right
time ... Author U shows
www.AuthorU.org
FOUNDER: Judith Briles
ADVISORY BOARD:
Collin Earl/ Dan Poynter
Greg Godek / Rick Frishman
Brian Jud / John Kremer
Eric Kampmann / Mara Purl
Penny Sansevieri/Marcella Smith
Susan RoAne, Peggy McColl
NEWSLETTER:
Linda Lane, Editor
Shannon Parish, Layout,
IllustratingYou.com
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3
Do You Know How: Continued from page 2 ....
exposed, talked about, findable. Your buyers can’t find you if you don’t build the bridges for them to get there.
It’s a new year—social media programs with be woven throughout, starting with this month’s Dinner and a Program
with Melody Jones, who works with authors, creating campaigns to build their fan base. Tech Tool Boxes are scheduled, and the monthly Salon will focus on how to control a media interview so it features you and your book in its best
light. Don’t forget to hold the May 3-5 dates for the Extravaganza.
Judith
Renewal Dues are Due Now!
It’s that time of the year … Author U Dues are now due.
What does your $89 Individual and $150 Associate membership bring you?
How about …
Discounts for
2
BookCamps each year that are Author and Marketing Centric … savings $50
1
Extravaganza in May with national authoring and publishing experts … savings $100
9
Webinars on a variety of topics designed to promote you and your book … savings $90
9
Content-rich newsletters—The Resource … priceless
9
Monday Evening Salons … only available to paid members … priceless
7
Dinner and a Program delivering content rich information … savings $35
1
Video Shoot …priceless
1
Opportunity to sell LOTS of books at the Holiday Gift Mart in October … priceless
1
Holiday party that is fun and has great eats … priceless
All
Premier Partners that save hundreds of dollars … priceless
1
Website that is updated constantly … priceless
A Forum to get your questions answered at our meetings and through emails … priceless
Your Author U Boards are proud of the development of Author U over the past
two years … its goal: to create an environment for the serious author who
wants to be seriously successful. We think we’ve succeeded … we hope you
do as well.
Renew now at:
http://authoru.org/join-author-u/benefits-and-costs.html
The Resource
4
Author U’s Extravaganza
It Takes a Village to Create and Market a Book
Bonus Session:
Thursday Afternoon, May 3rd
Join Book Marketing Guru John Kremer,
author of the book marketing bible,
1001 Ways to Market Your Book at the
Author U pre-Extravaganza bonus
session.
Details to come ...
Time: 3 to 8 ... will include dinner.
Location: Doubletree-DTC (off of Orchard and 25)
Cost: $50 for Members; $75 for Non-Members. This is the Early, Early Bird rate.
Any author or forthcoming author should experience John Kremer. Savvy, Current and Creative. www.BookMarket.com
The Extravaganza
Friday and Saturday May 4th and 5 th
New faces, new variations on critical topics ... join confirmed national publishing
Speakers:
John Kremer Book Marketing guru, 1001 Ways to Market Your Book
Steve Harrison Radio and TV Interview Reports (RTIR)—publicity
Florrie Binford Kichler president of IBPA
Marty Dickinson Getting Brutal with Google
Mary Barnett Mobile Marketing
Brian Jud Niche Marketing for Your Books
Georgia McCabe Social Media
Janita Cooper Book Trailers, Video, CD and DVD
Daniel Hall ePromoting and eMarketing and Webinars
Peter Vandevanter Next, Next Thing in Printing ... and several more.
Professional Head Shot Photos Ashlee Bratton
Exhibitors include Sheridan Printing, Total Printing System, Thomson-Shore, King/Adi Printing, NZGraphics,
IllustratingYou, The Book Shepherd, Soup Kitchen Writing, The Book Shepherd, BlueInk Reviews, Patti Thorn Editing,
Illustrating You, Editing By John, Tu-Vets Printing, Hercules Freight, Frederic Printing ... the list is growing
Sponsors include Total Printing and Thomson-Shore
Time:
Friday 8 to 8 ... includes lunch and dinner (surprise guest appearance) and a little music.
Saturday 8 to 5 ... includes lunch
Location:
Doubletree-DTC off of Orchard and 25
Cost: $277 This is the Early, Early Bird rate for Members; Non-Members, $330—it will increase $50 in
February, March and April. Single day rates are available—check www.AuthorU.org for details.
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5
Do you need (or want) a sharp, up-to-date head shot?
Ashography Event & Portrait Photography is offering photography packages at the Author U Extravaganza
this May. If pictures are worth a thousand words, having a professional portrait for your website, bio or
book cover is priceless. Photographer Ashlee
Bratton will have her studio lighting setup and
offer packages with professionally edited photos,
including digital rights.
Private portrait sessions may be scheduled
separately through www.ashography.com.
Bring your best smile and put your best self
forward! Think website, one-sheets, book covers
... you name it, she can do it!
www.BookLaunchSites.com
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February Dinner and a Program
What’s New, What’s Old, What Works,
and What Doesn’t in Social Media
Love or hate social media, it’s here to stay. If you are bemused, bewildered, and
befuddled, let Melody Jones bewitch and beguile you with clarity. You’ll leave with
detailed handouts; an understanding of the most well-known platforms, including
Facebook and Twitter; and all the latest and greatest about the new (big) kid on the
block Google+.
Bring your laptop because we’re gettin’ real with Google+. You’ll join, find, and
connect with your Author U buddies in Circles, learn how to interact in real time
using the Google+ Hangout feature, and create a business page. Come prepared
by opening a Google account prior to the meeting and knowing the email AND
password you opened it with.
But wait, there’s more:
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Tweet This - why when you tweet, what you tweet, and where you place your link matter
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Schedule That - make a new plan, Stan, and set yourself free with a social media schedule you’ll fill in
before the night slips out the back, Jack
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In Your Face(book) – why you must be real, be informative, and be wary of overload
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Ch-ch-changes – what they are and why you should care on Facebook and Twitter
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The Greatest Match of All Time: Facebook vs. Google+
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Attention, Class! Social media lessons from 2011 and what you can learn from them
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Never Stop Learning: Top 10 social media information resources
Mark your calendar for:
February 23, 6-9 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn DTC.
Be prepared to interact, have fun,
and make friends with social media.
Melody Jones manages the social media presence for authors and other
creatives through her company Melody Jones | Social Media Management
Services. She also hosts Social Media Coffee, a real-life monthly education and
networking group in Parker, Colorado.
The Resource
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CalmUp® for Authors
By Lorie S. Gose, Psy.D.
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How can I create consistent writing time in my schedule?
How can I do a better job with marketing my books?
How can I schedule more book signings?
How can I make time to attend an AuthorU function this month?
How can I…?
Are these questions familiar to you? What personal “How can I…” question would you ask as a published
or future author? The beauty of an open-ended question is that it expands the field of possibility, allowing
answers to emerge from outside your inhibiting beliefs and self-concept.
I created the CalmUp® Journey for people interested in making positive changes in their daily life. You
begin by asking a “How can I…” question for your day. Your question can relate to your writing/work,
relationship, family, finances, health, faith, or other personal experiences.
Ask your “How can I…” question. Then assign a baseline rating from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) for the
level of peace and joy. The CalmUp® Journey will take you through seven levels of a one-page, two-sided
worksheet that you can complete, ideally, on a daily basis. When you complete the tool, you’ll evaluate
your progress with a final rating.
For example, back on September 12, 2011, I was in the throes of the publishing process. In the midst of
new-author-chaos, I started at level I and asked, “How do I birth this book with love and grace?” Within
approximately 30-minutes, my rating changed from a “3” to a “7.” Later on September 27, I asked another
business-related question, “How can I move forward and launch CalmUp® with joy and integrity?” That day
my rating changed from a “4” to an “8.” I laughed when I recently reread my subsequent question, “How
can I get a full night’s sleep?” The next day, I finally had a “10”!
Use the CalmUp® Journey for guidance—and ascent—during life’s challenges, transitions, and crises, and
especially to enhance daily life experiences.The truth is, you’re probably doing a fine job, making your way
through the writing, publishing, and marketing maze. You found Judith Briles. You have the support of
other writers. You’re on track. Can it get any better? How about a better life of better days? Ask your day’s
question, then move up the page to turn a page.
Dr. Lorie Gose is the author of CalmUp ® Journey: Your Daily Ascending Tool for Better Days and the
companion book, CalmUp® Journey Lorie S. Gose, Psy.D.
Pages: Your Keepsafe for Better Days. In January of this year, Lorie celebrated the launch of CalmUp,®
LLC. She lives in Lakewood with her husband, son, and two dogs. You can contact Lorie read her blogs,
and learn about her workshops at www.DrLorieGose.com.
REMEMBER: It’s time to renew your Author U Membership now!
Go to:
http://authoru.org/join-author-u/benefits-and-costs.html
The Resource
8
Mark Your Calendars - 2012 Save the Dates!
February 2, 9, 16, 23
Your Guide to Book Publishing Radio Show, 4 p.m. MST
February 1
Tech Tool Book with Kelly Johnson 3- 6 pm
The Wonders of WordPress
February 3
Webinars R Us with Daniel Hall 1 – 2.30 am
Step-by-Step Insider Secrets To Producing Highly-Profitable Webinars
February 23
Dinner and a Program with Melody Jones 6 – 9 pm
Social Media … What Works ...and What Doesn’t
February 27
Salon with Judith Briles and Barbara Joye 6 – 9 pm
It’s Your Spot: How to Be a Great Media Guest and Control the Interview
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Your Guide to Book Publishing Radio Show, 4 p.m. MST
March 6
Tech Tool Box - Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles
Keywords and eBooks, Part I
March 20
Tech Tool Box - Nick Taylor
Keywords and eBooks, Part II
March 22
Dinner and a Program with Brent Sampson 6-9 pm
How to Crack the Amazon Code and What’s New in POD
April 5, 12, 19, 26
Your Guide to Book Publishing Radio Show, 4 p.m. MST
April 4
Tech Tool Box / Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles
The Wonders of WordPress
April 11
Tech Tool Box - Kelly Johnson
SlideShare
April 19
Dinner and a Program TBA
May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Your Guide to Book Publishing Radio Show, 4 p.m. MST
May 3
Extravaganza Bonus — An Afternoon with John Kremer
May 4 – 5
Author U Extravaganza! All day plus Friday evening
It Takes a Village to Create, Market and Sell Your Book
June 7, 14, 21, 28
Your Guide to Book Publishing Radio Show, 4 p.m. MST
June 21
Dinner and a Program TBA
December 15
Holiday Dinner Party
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Upcoming Tech Toolboxes Save the Dates!
Tech Tool Boxes are 3-hour intensives from 3 to 6 p.m. and are limited to 8 attendees. Bring your laptop. You will get direct one-on-one coaching from Kelly Johnson
and Judith Briles.
February 1
The Wonders of WordPress with Kelly Johnson
Beyond the basics and in-depth, one-on-one formatting becomes the perfect hands-on detailed
follow-up to the Monday Evening Salon held on the 23rd. Want to learn how to add a post or page
to your WordPress site? Images and Links? Change the look? Want your Blog synched and running smoothly? Interested in
discovering which widgets and plug-ins are for you and what they can do?
Come join us to learn how you can manage and update your own WordPress site! (Only 3 spots left!)
March 6
How to Save Time Online Using Hootsuite and Keywords Using Google+, Facebook
and Twitter and Defining Keywords, Part I
with Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles
Feeling like posting to your social media sites takes too much time? Do you have the right keywords and keyword phrases to
connect? Do you know which hash tags open the door to the magic re-tweeting kingdom? Save time being online using
Hootsuite. Hootsuite allows you to post to your social media sites through just one account. Enter your tweet, select which of
your site(s) to send it, and you’re DONE! You also have the option to schedule tweets. Be prepared to post a month’s blogs,
tweets, and Facebook in just a few hours – how cool is that?
March 20
Shaking It Online. Make a Living with Your eBooks—the Workshop ... Keywords and
eBooks, Part II ... with Nick Taylor
Have you ever wondered how people make a living with their eBooks? That’s what “Shaking It Online” is all about. You will learn
some of the most powerful and effective tools online and ways to implement them with your book. Led by Nick Taylor.
We learn how
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to make online retailers market for you,
to use www.Goodreads.com and other social media platforms,
“free” might be able to work for you,
to talk about your backlist and how to use it,
To connect with bloggers,
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Which free online tools you can use to create stunning splash pages and HTML emails.
April 4
Register Online
http://bit.ly/xqHBa8
The Wonders of WordPress with Kelly Johnson
Beyond the basics and in-depth, one-on-one formatting becomes the perfect hands-on detailed follow-up to the Monday
Evening Salon held on the 23rd. Want to learn how to add a post or page to your WordPress site? Images and Links? Change
the look? Want your Blog synched and running smoothly? Interested in discovering which widgets and plug-ins are for you and
what they can do?
Come join us to learn how you can manage and update your own WordPress site!
April 11
SlideShare Basics and Strategies with Kelly Johnson
SlideShare has 60 million monthly visitors, 130 million page views, and was recently voted among the World’s Top 10 tools for
Education and eLearning. In addition to presentations, SlideShare supports documents, PDFs, videos and webinars. Embed
your uploads to blogs and websites, install the SlideShare application on your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts, upload
presentations publicly or privately, and discover their free, 1 click web meetings using Zipcast.
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Death by Buzz Word ...
In December, LinkedIn with over 135 million members, released its
list of the year’s most overused professional buzzwords. Common,
everyday terms that all of us use frequently. Get out your “X”
marks the word mentality ... it’s time to do a makeover.
# 10
#9
#8
#7
#6
#5
#4
#3
#2
#1
Dynamic
Communication Skills
Problem Solving
Innovative
Motivated
Track Record
Extensive Experience
Effective
Organization
Creative
All great words ... do come up with ones that say what “they say” but with a twist—time to be creative ...
whoops ... imaginative and inspired!
Cartoon by ShannonParish.com
If your online profiles are woven with words like creative, organization, or effective, you may be influencing the
snooze factor for your readers and visitors. Below are the Top 10 Buzzwords that LinkedIn suggests to delete
from your profile NOW!
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Book Smarts
Get Published Today
By Penny C Sansevieri
Written in an author-friendly and no-nonsense format, Penny Sansevieri
brings her labyrinth of publishing and marketing experience to the front.
Get Published Today! will be considered one of the new bibles of publishing. Little is left unaddressed. Areas covered include shortcuts and
insider tips such as
• how New York publishing really works,
• how to get published in ninety days ... or less,
• how to jump on the eBook bandwagon,
• hundreds of publishing and marketing resources,
• how to sell your book in the foreign market and make great money.
The book is divided into three sections: Let’s Get Published, Getting Ready, and To Market.
Let’s Get Published first looks at New York publishing in general and branches out to all the hybrids. You
get info on copyrights, trademarks, patents, the critical need to edit (almost always bypassed by selfpublishers), which printing options are available, branding, and eBooks.
Getting Ready focuses on goal setting, market analysis, creating a marketing plan and timeline, obtaining
endorsements.
To Market is all about promotion—from book reviews, various book events, using traditional as well as
social media and a variety of methods to promote your book. Available in both print and eBook formats.
Highly recommended.
Tech Toolbox
February 1
The Wonders of WordPress
with Kelly Johnson
Beyond the basics in-depth, one-on-one formatting becomes the perfect
hands-on, detailed follow-up to the Monday Evening Salon held on the 23rd.
Want to learn how to add a post or page to your WordPress site? Images and
Links? Change the look? Want your Blog synched and running smoothly?
Interested in discovering which widgets and plug-ins are for you and what
they can do?
Come join us to learn how you can manage and update your own WordPress
site! (There are only three spots left!)
Register: http://authoru.org/author-tech-toolbox-workshops.html
The Resource
12
Author U Is on the Air!
Your Guide to Book Publishing with Judith Briles ...
Everything You Want to Know, But Didn’t Know What
to Ask launched live on January 5th. Every Thursday,
Judith will host an hour radio show with guests and
features. Live with call-ins. For the beginner and intermediate author—all episodes will be available for downloads and podcasting. Listen live or click on the podcast
from the website. February’s programs include the Author Platform, Creating and Marketing Fiction, Free Apps
for Authors, IBPA’s Perspective on Indie Publishing.
If you want to write and publish a book ... if you want to be successful as an author, Your Guide to
Book Publishing ... Everything You Want to Know, But Didn’t Know What to Ask is for you. You will
hear about statistics, scenarios and strategies on what to do now! As The Book Shepherd, Dr. Judith
Briles, is in, and each week she will include publishing professionals that will reveal tips and secrets
to the author’s journey. If there is a book in you, you want to listen, learn ... and yes, call-in with your
questions each week. Go to the website and listen to our past shows.
Call in LIVE at 866-404-6519 4:00 pm MST
Listen LIVE at http://rockstarradionetwork.com/shows/yourguidetobookpublishing
Monday Evening Salon - For Members Only
February 27th from 6 pm to 9 pm
How to Be THE STAR and IN CONTROL When You Are Interviewed
with Judith Briles and Barbara Joye
Are you planning to be on the air? Do you want to be a guest? Even
host a show? Learn the skills required to be effective, persuasive and IN
CONTROL when you are a guest on radio or TV. Learn what works and
what doesn’t and how to take control back when the Host takes over.
Silly person—they thought it was their show. Nope, when you are the
guest, it’s about YOU and YOUR BOOK.
Come learn how Judith got herself on 1000+ shows, how she pitched and “hooked” the spot and the
fine art of being a great guest that gets your message across. Both Judith and Barbara are experienced radio show hosts. Learn tips on booking guests and how to get the host on your side so he or
she becomes a raving fan. Hot Seats and dinner included. (Only eight spots available)
Register: http://authoru.org/feb-27-monday-evening-salon.html
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Why Does It Take So Long To Sell My Books?
by Brian Jud
The process for selling books through bookstores—albeit most retail stores—is standard. You find a distribution partner who fills the pipeline with your books. They are
placed on the shelf and if 5,000 books are sold, they are sold one at a time to 5,000
people. There is no relationship with the buyer and each sale is a distinct event. If not
sold in 90 days, your books are returned.
The process for selling to corporate buyers is much different. Your books are not sold off
the shelf and are not returnable. They use your book as a marketing tool to sell more of
their products, or as a way to educate, train, reward or motivate their employees.
You are the sales person because there are no distributors to the corporate market.
They are buying in larger quantities, so the same 5,000 books are sold to one person.
These buyers are in a career position spending their company’s money. They do not want to make a mistake
and look bad by buying a book that does not perform as expected. Therefore, relationships are key. Salespeople call on buyers for several years to earn a large sale. They become a trusted consultant to the buyers,
helping them make decisions to spend tens of thousands of dollars on your book. In many cases the decision
is made by a committee, creating more touch points before they place an order. And more times than not, a
key person in this process is promoted, transferred or leaves the company and it starts all over again.
For all these reasons, selling books to corporate buyers takes much longer to complete than a retail sale. The
attached information describes each step in this process to give you a better understanding of what each sale
entails. It may seem laborious at times, but the rewards can be enormous.
Most independent publishers try to sell their books only through the typical distribution network. Their efforts
consist primarily of securing distributors and wholesalers to funnel books to retailers who put them on their
shelves. There they stay, nestled among their competitors for a quick and easy comparison of benefits and
price. The entire course of action may take 10 minutes since the purchase risk is low. If the book does not
meet expectations it is returned, and eventually makes its way back to the author.
Unaware that this traditional system is totally different from the process for selling books to nonretail, buyers,
publishers expect a similarly short selling cycle in the promotional products industry (PPI). But that is not the
case. In the PPI, independent sales people (called distributors) sell — on a commission-only basis — a wide
variety of products as premiums and ad specialties.
In order to grow their businesses they must seek a continuous source of new prospects. The sales people learn
their prospects’ needs, propose solutions, make multiple presentations, negotiate the terms of each sale and
service the business once the order is placed. This takes considerable time, if for no other reason then that the
buyer’s risk of making the wrong decision is considerably higher since the purchases are not returnable.
. . . Continued on page 14
Have You Met Author U’s Associates?
Have you checked out Author U’s Associate Services page on the website?
We have recommended providers from shipping to printing and everything in
between. http://authoru.org/associate-service-providers.html
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Why Does It Take So Long: Continued from page 19 ....
Here is a description of the typical process for making a large-quantity, non-returnable sale to a professional
buyer, perhaps in a corporation, association or school.
The 10-Step Process for Making a Major Sale to a Non-Bookstore Buyer
Step One:
Salespeople search for prospects to create new opportunities (Continuous Process)
Distributors canvass their prospect lists to find new buyers for promotional products, and current customers to
find new ways to sell to them. These could be marketing people, executives, HR managers, sales managers,
meeting planners prospects at government agencies and the armed forces. They seek ways to sell promotional items inlarge quantities with no returns.
Step Two:
Qualify and prioritize the prospects
Not all prospects are equal in their ability to purchase promotional products. Some may be entrenched with
competitive products, have no budget to purchase or may have recently concluded a promotional campaign
recently and are not currently in the market. The distributors must decide which are the best sales prospects
at this time so they concentrate their efforts where they should get the greatest return.
Step Three:
Meetings with each prospect to set purchasing criteria and campaign objectives (One to Two Months)
Once they have a good lead, the sales people have an initial meeting to discuss ways to implement marketing, promotional, motivational or educational programs. They may meet several times to set the criteria for the
event and plan how to proceed.
Step Four:
Product search (Two weeks per prospect)
The sales people search the array of available promotional products available to find those that best meet the
agreed upon criteria. The Premium Book Company uses a variety of techniques to bring its books to the
attention of distributors.
Step Five:
Planning (Three to four weeks)
The distributors prepare plans and budgets describing how the various items will most cost-effectively reach
the stated objectives. They organize their plans into the form of a proposal (a formal, written description of the
Continued on page 15 ....
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15
Why Does It Take So Long: Continued from page 14 ....
reasons why an organization should accept the distributor’s
recommendation) and demonstrating how their proposition is
the best solution given the buyer’s objectives and competitive
proposals.
Step Six:
Initial presentation (One to Two Months)
The distributors present their proposals to the decision makers.
If there are multiple decision makers, then the reps may have
to return several times to meet with each, securing the agreement of every person to whom they present hundred of promotional products from thousands of Suppliers: cameras, apparel,
watches, food items, glassware, flowers, camping equipment
and vacation trips Books from the Premium Book Company
Step Seven:
Due diligence (One to Four Months)
Depending on size of the investment required to purchase the
books, the customer will investigate its impact on employees,
sales, brand image, competitive position, customers, suppliers,
salespeople, purchasing policies, warehousing procedures,
previous promotions, marketing plans, budgets as well as
short-term and long-term business plans.
Step Eight:
Follow-up presentations (One to Two Months)
Depending on the results of the prospect’s due diligence and
the size of the order, the distributor may have to return multiple
times to meet with other people who can influence the decision.
These presentations tend to be more formal. In some cases
new information is revealed, budgets are changed, personnel
may change and the process begins anew.
Cartoons, Illustrations
and Graphic Recording
by Shannon Parish
Contact me now for your illustration,
presentation and/or event needs.
Call me at (720) 295-7409
Visit me online at:
www.ShannonParish.com
www.IllustratingYou.com
* Author U Members receive discounts!
Step Nine:
Negotiation (One to Two Months)
Rarely is the initial proposal accepted in totality. The parties negotiate in good faith to get the best deal for
their constituencies. The order may be cancelled at any time during this process if budgets are cancelled,
companies are taken over, personnel are changed, objectives changed, political issues interact
Step Ten:
Close, service and maintain the business
The distributors do not try to make sales, they try to make customers, long-term relationships that result in
recurring revenue. Once the order is placed the distributors track it closely to make sure the correct books are
shipped at the right time in the right quantity.
Brian Jud is on the Board of Author U and is an author, book-marketing consultant, seminar leader, television host, and
president of Book Marketing Works, LLC. He is also a partner in Premium Book Company that sells books to non-bookstore buyers on a non-returnable, commission-only basis. He is the author of How to Make Real Money Selling Books, as
well as the Publishers Weekly title, Beyond the Bookstore, and The Marketing Planning CD-ROM . His website is
www.BookMarketingWorks.com.
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16
Tech Toolbox
February 1
The Wonders of WordPress
with Kelly Johnson
Beyond the basics in-depth, one-on-one formatting becomes the perfect
hands-on, detailed follow-up to the Monday Evening Salon held on the 23rd.
Want to learn how to add a post or page to your WordPress site? Images and
Links? Change the look? Want your Blog synched and running smoothly?
Interested in discovering which widgets and plug-ins are for you and what
they can do?
Come join us to learn how you can manage and update your own WordPress
site! (There’s only three spots left!)
Register: http://authoru.org/author-tech-toolbox-workshops.html
Monday Evening Salon - For Members Only
February 27th from 6 pm to 9
How to Be The Star and In Control
When You Are Interviewed
with Judith Briles and Barbara Joye
Are you planning to be on the air? Do you want to be a guest? Even host a show? There are skills to
being effective, persuasive and IN CONTROL when you are a guest on radio or TV. Learn what works
and what doesn’t and how to take control back when the Host takes over. Silly person—they thought
it was their show. Nope, when you are the guest, it’s about YOU and YOUR BOOK.
Judith has been a guest on over 1000 radio and TV shows—from Oprah to Good Morning America to
CNN and, yes, the local outlets, as well. She’s been a spokesperson for several Fortune 500 companies, and completed both radio and TV satellite tours for their products. Currently, she’s the host of
Your Guide to Book Publishing.
Barbara has hosted The Creating Café as well as Thank God It’s Friday.
Come learn how they did it, how they pitched and “hooked” the spot and the fine art of being a great
guest that gets your message across. Hot Seats and dinner included.
(Only eight spots available)
Location: Judith and John’s
Time: 6 – 9, includes dinner
Date: Monday, February 27th
Cost: $27
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Webinars R Us
Step-by-Step Insider Secrets
to Producing Highly-Profitable Webinars
Friday, February 3, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM MST
Would you like to use Webinars to support your book, your products, your business this year? Why?
Well ...
Webinars can...
•
Increase your book sales conversions and consequently produce profits—sometimes monster!
•
Build your eLists like crazy.
•
Help you “connect” and “bond” with your clients and prospects, creating
raving fans of YOU.
•
Brand you and your business and give you a solid-reputation for someone
who delivers massive value and someone worthy of buying from.
All you need is your laptop!
Time: 3 p.m. Eastern (New York Time), 2 p.m. Central (Chicago Time),1 p.m. Mountain (Denver
Time), 12 Noon Pacific (Los Angles Time)
Grab your spot here: http://www.danielhallwebinars.com/real-fast-webinars
You’ll get the exact template that our friend and master webinar presenter Daniel Hall
uses for consistently producing webinars that make mountains of cash! This training will be literally
step-by-step.
Hold the Dates ... Author U Extravaganza is May 3 – 5
May 3rd Bonus Afternoon with John Kremer, author of
1001 Ways to Market Your Book
May 4th-5th Join Steve Harrison (publicity), Florrie Binford
Kichler (president of IBPA), Mary Barnett (mobile marketing),
Georgia McCabe (social media), Janita Cooper (book trailers,
video, cd and dvd), Daniel Hall (ePromoting and eMarketing),
Brian Jud (marketing at summer festivals), John Kremer, marketing; Nick Zelinger (covers and interiors) and several more.
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18
Marty’s Corner
No Sympathy for Excuses
“Marty...I don’t want to do any of this s*#@!” Those were Judith’s exact
words as she started her Twitter account one April day of 2011 under my
forced direction. My project manager, Amber, and I were at the Briles’
residence to plan the construction of the Author U website when we found
out how uninvolved Judith was with social networking. Judith chose to
change her mindset and got rid of the excuses, and her consistent Internet
participation has led to the growth of Author U as you see it today.
To kick off Marty’s Corner, I’d like to present a topic that is absolutely
essential to your benefitting from anything I have to say and has nothing to
do with the Internet. From month-to-month, I’m going to alarm you,
surprise you, and maybe even shock you with facts, challenges, and todo’s for you to try in your own book marketing process. To take action with
anything, you will need to do more than just open your mind to new
possibilities. In fact, you are going to have to change your mindset and stop making excuses and get to
the fortune that awaits you.
The excuse that you’re too old to tweet doesn’t work with me anymore. One of my clients is 87, and he
figured out how to make four of his own websites by reading an HTML book. He learned how to convert
his own book to Kindle; the book was turned into a play and will be featured onstage in Texas this April.
Anyone can learn to do anything online by learing one thing at a time. Who knows? You might even
discover something you learn is actually fun to do.
If you feel you’re just not physically capable of “doing all that Internet stuff,” you’re wrong again. One of
my clients has no arms and legs, and she surfs Hawaii, drives her own car, and maintains all the content
on her website while traveling the country, speaking. If your message is important enough, you owe it to
society to do whatever it takes to deliver your experience to the world.
Then there’s this money thing. If you feel the economy has beaten you down so low that you have no
money to buy any help to promote your book or your business, pardon the pun, but I just don’t buy it. If
you are as passionate about your topic as you need to be to succeed in the book business, you will find a
way to get the money you need to hire the right team of people to help you succeed. If you had to get a
heart transplant by the end of the month to survive, you’d be amazed how fast you’d find the money. Start
thinking of your book as your heart and find the money to stay alive!
No, you won’t find any sympathy for excuses in Marty’s Corner. I expect my team and my clients to
change their mindsets and expectations for much higher levels of determination and drive than most
people are ready for initially. Come see me in Marty’s Corner and leave your excuses at the door.
Marty Dickinson, co-author of Web Marketing All-in-One for Dummies (W iley), has been a full-time web marketer since
1996. He manages nearly 100 of his own websites to sell a variety of products and services. His staff, a team of seven,
provides a full suite of web-marketing services for more than 100 speakers and authors around the world through his
company and Premier Author U Partner, www.HereNextYear.com.
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The New PR: Turning Fans into Evangelists
By Penny C. Sansevieri
Twelve years ago, it was unclear whether blogs would make a dent in news and
communication. Back then, if you wanted to get your idea out, you had to market to radio, TV, and print publications; otherwise, your message would die
quietly. Today, online and social media have practically replaced the nightly
news.
So many channels have opened up to help us market. And while this is good
news, there is a downside to this social media world. We have a LOT of news.
Some is just wasteful white noise; and much of it, we ignore. Now, the challenge
is no longer can you get someone’s attention, but can you keep it long enough
to get him or her interested in what you are selling? It’s not a challenge everyone is up for, and that’s okay. But if you want to get noticed and sell books,
here’s how to do it:
Say something new: Don’t just repeat what everyone else is saying; offer your perspective, your viewpoint. Now, there’s a caveat to this: if you are teaching to the masses, your clients will need to hear a
message several times before they get it. Sometimes repetition is good. But if you’re just repeating what
someone else is saying with no new spin or twist on it, then it’s just boring.
No one cares what you say: Truth be told, no one cares what you tell them. What people care about is
what their friends say, who their friends recommend. You must be so compelling, interesting, or funny that
people want to tell other people about you. A survey done by Edelman Digital noted that fewer than one in
three people trust marketing messages. Scary, isn’t it?
Give consumers what they want: Remember, it’s not about you; it’s about your consumers. Leave your
ego at the door. People want valuable insights, access to information and free stuff. Now if the thought of
free makes you shiver, here’s an article showing you how to monetize “free.”
Numbers matter: We’re a society that pays attention to the numbers we see on Twitter and Facebook. If
you are promoting yourself and only have 10 followers on Twitter, you might want to think about how this
looks. Consumers like what other consumers like, and the numbers associated with these sites often
determine how “likable” you are. Bigger numbers get consumer (and media) interest. Just remember,
getting these folks and keeping them depends on you. Be good or be gone.
Do stuff people will love: Getting people to love you is easy. This is why I talk so much about giving
away information. I am always stunned by how many authors tell me they love our newsletter (The Book
Marketing Expert) or our Huffington Post articles. Give people what they want without conditions, and they
will love you for it.
Do stuff people will hate: Not everyone will love what you say, and that’s okay. When I wrote “Why
Some Authors Fail,” I thought everyone would hate that piece. Some people did, and that’s okay, too. If
everyone loves you, you’re doing something wrong.
Continued on page 20 ....
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20
Turning Fans Into Evangelists: continued from page 19 ...
Make random connections: Not all your contacts or connections need to make sense. Make random
connections. For instance, every couple of weeks, email or message someone following you on Facebook
and ask them if they like the information you provide and what you can do better. You may not always like
the answer, but I can guarantee it will show you their interests and hot buttons. Our best information
comes from our audience. I’ve known authors who developed an entire book based solely on audience
questions. Ask!
Stay on top of current trends: Staying on top of current trends can seem like a time waster. It’s not. Sign
up for Google alerts and trends in your area of expertise. You’ll get news items on your topic funneled to
you. This will help you gather ideas on new topics to blog on. If you can tie a hot topic into your specialty,
you can really drive interest to your content. Why? If it’s trending in Google, the searches for this item are
high, meaning a larger volume of potential customers who can find your message.
While being mentioned in the news is great, that alone won’t ring the cash register. You have to get in
front of enough people in a very interesting and unique way. You have to get them to fall in love with your
message so much that they’ll talk about you, Tweet about you, and tell all their friends to go buy your
book. It’s all about getting your community so enamored with your message that contacts become evangelists.
Sites mentioned in this article:
http://www.google.com/trends
http://www.google.com/insights/search/
Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and
internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She serves on the Advisory Board
of Author U. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the
most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. Follow on Twitter @Bookgal.
Looking for a special Valentine’s Day Gift?
Here’s an idea from Alex Carroll,
the radio publicity guy.
Hearts and Time ...
they go together!
www.HeartStones.com
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21
Member News
Suzy Shride reports Radical Parenting has just published a stellar review of Lucy Dakota:
Adventures of a Modern Explorer Book 1-Rocky Mountain Beginnings. http://bit.ly/yqBUTt
Michelle Marchildon has launched Finding More on the Mat. Voted Colorado’s top Yogi—
you will find that Finding More on the Mat is sassy, spicy, and salty. A fun read—think of
Michelle as the Erma Bombeck of the Mat. Michelle was also picked up as a columnist for
the Elephant Journal blog. Will it make a difference in her sales for her new book? Absolutely—the Elephant Journal has over 850,000 subscribers in a variety of topic areas. As
Michelle says, “Blogging is very important to our websites with over 1500 hits in one day on
a recent blog that led to over 600 Facebook connections and dozens of retweets.”Available
through Amazon: http://amzn.to/zi1MKc
Phil Varley and his book, Failure Is Not An Option: The 12-Step Plan to Successful Turnarounds, was featured in the Financial Times http://on.ft.com/zcjzRp . Within the article, he
challenged the British government in their potential $36 billion investment in a high speed rail
system. Instead, he offered a $36 million dollar solution. Phil’s book, Failure Is Not An Option, is
the new business operating handbook to navigate corporate hazards and stay aloft. Designed
for anyone who is a key executive in a company that is facing financial challenges, needs to
rebound from a downturn, and/or wants to achieve financial success. http://amzn.to/zNOsau
Susan Mead, author of the award-winning Take Back Your Body, has been offered a contract for her next book by Penguin. http://amzn.to/yz9XqU
Shannon Parish is thrilled to announce her new website, Book Sites &
WordPress by IllustratingYou, dedicated to assisting authors in creating
their book launches, as well as in their ongoing website development and
maintenance in addition to providing her clients with a variety creative and
artistic services. www.BookLaunchSites.com/
Doug Koktavy’s The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer: Lessons on Living and Dying from My
Canine Brothers is developing roots. Earlier this year, it was printed in Italian; now the Dutch
version is added to the foreign rights shelf. Learn more and buy the book at
www.BeezerandBoomer.com.
Jeanette Seibly’s next book, The Magnetic Factor, is in layout. It’s Time to Brag! is now
available on Kindle and other eBook platforms.
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22
Member News
Dr. Roger Frame presented his book, Don't Carve the Turkey with a Chainsaw: Resolving
Family Conflict, on Gary Pozsik's radio show, Health, Wealth, and Happiness, out of Columbia,
SC. His first 15-minute appearance resulted in a second 30-minute appearance to further
discuss conflict management concepts. In January, Dr. Frame also presented two 3-hour workshops on his book to 140 people at the Illinois School Psychologists Association.
Christie Hartman has just released her first independently published book, Changing Your
Game—A Man’s Guide to Success with Women. Available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon’s
Kindle at: http://amzn.to/AuRMpI
Karla Reiss will release her latest book, Be a Changemaster: 12 Coaching Strategies for
Leading Professional and Personal Change, published by Corwin Press on February 7th.
http://amzn.to/wh1szr
Marl Purl had a book signing at the Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch in January for her latest
book, What the Heart Knows—lots of books sold!
Dom Testa gets kudos ... his The Mind Bender Book is back to print and has sold over 3,000
copies! Illustrations by Shannon Parish.
Dr. Kent Ira Groff received an award for “Exceptional Instruction” for initiating “Writing Your Way
into Life,” a program in Denver Women’s Correctional Facility. The award was given by the Center
for Spirituality at Work, who sponsors several programs in DWCF. See www.cfsaw.org. In February
2012, Groff will complete his fourth six-week series, including one with men on medical disability in
an adjacent facility. Drawing on his book Writing Tides: Finding Grace and Growth through Writing,
each session includes in-class and through-the-week writing exercises. One student commented, “I
was stretched beyond my usual patterns of thinking and expression.” Another said, “The class
opened my mind to how vast perspectives are: that there is no one way to see anything. I was
spiritually opened to some areas that have been previously closed to me.” Kent has two new books
scheduled for 2012: Clergy Table Talk (Spring) and Honest to God Prayer (Fall). View his books and
resources on www.LinkYourSpirituality.com.
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23
New Members
A.J. White - I have been involved within the healthcare profession for over 35 years, working in
occupational health, healthcare business start-up, hospitals, and as a consultant in wellness. My passion,
before it was given a name, has been successful aging. Observing and interacting with the established
medical system gave me the “ah hah” that traditional medical practice is not the answer to aging well.
Lifestyle is. Consciousness and self-awareness are.
I am finishing my dissertation on successful aging of post-menopausal women. My next priority is to
publish this information to empower women to become aware of their wide ranging societal influence and
the need to bring their wisdom to the world.On a personal note, I’m hedonistic in my love for gourmet food
and wine, world traveled and insatiably curious about people and ideas, and a committed foodie.
Dr. Christie Hartman is a psychologist, author, and coach who specializes in research-based advice
for singles looking to succeed at dating. She is the author of two books for women: Dating the Divorced Man: Sort through the Baggage to Decide if He’s Right for You and It’s Not Him, It’s YOU: The
Truth You May Not Want – But Need – To Hear. Most recently, Christie released her first book for
men, Changing Your Game: A Man’s Guide to Success with Women. As a dating coach, Christie has
helped women around the world tackle their dating challenges and find the love they seek.
Christie has appeared on national television, including the Today Show and Fox News Live. She’s had
numerous radio appearances and has been quoted in articles for CNN.com, Match.com, Cosmopolitan , Women’s Health, and Shape. Christie earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Colorado, where she studied psychopathology and behavioral genetics. A Denver resident,
Christie enjoys running, hiking, camping and the occasional poker game. Join her on Facebook and
Twitter . Visit her at www.ChristieHartman.com.
Robert Holland, PMP is a Project Management Professional. He has two sci-fi titles on Amazon for
Kindle, and a soon-to-be-released non-fiction about hip and knee replacement. He loves to bicycle
and hike and take long, family vacations in their travel trailer along with doing digital photography. His
next book is the Hip and Knee Replacement Handbook.
Follow Us!
Don’t be left out! Make sure you follow Author U on Facebook, Twitter,
and our Blog. Encourage others who are interested in writing, authoring
and publishing to do the same.
Twitter: @AuthorU
Blog: www.authoru.org /feed
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/AuthorU
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24
New Members
Maisha I is an insatiable student of dabbling. Her dabblings have ranged from rocket science,
psychic phenomenon, the migration of geese, the sacredness of the birth process, and the body-mind
connection to just about everything else.
She is currently working on her biography— Journey to I. Look for it later this year. She also enjoys
dancing with her daughter in an East Indian Dance Troupe, making unique pieces of jewelry, being a
mother and recently a first-time grandmother, assisting her husband in his Shadow Work practice, and
mentoring young people in the community.
Her mission as an Intergalactic Ambassador to earth is to convey to earthlings our similarities so that we
can get on with the business of being our beautiful, enlightened selves. Her hobbies include traveling,
reading, meeting new people, and being pleasantly surprised—emphasis on pleasant.
Jessica Wulf is a native of North Dakota and has spent most of her life in Colorado, where she now
lives with her husband, four happy dogs, and one very spoiled cat. Since 1994, she has published six
historical romance novels—selling over 100,000 copies—all set in the American West in the 1800s:
The Irish Rose, The Mountain Rose, and The Wild Rose, a trilogy set in the early 1870s, and Hunter’s
Bride, Joseph’s Bride , and Grey Eagle’s Bride, another trilogy, set around Fort Laramie in the early
1850s. She tells the stories the gods give her of ordinary people who respond to extraordinary
challenges with honor and courage—and find love along the way. Her greatest wish is that her books
convey her belief in the power of love and its ultimate triumph in the world, leaving her readers with a
sense of satisfaction and hope. In addition to a B.A. in History, she has a passion and fascination for it
and sometimes feels that she was born in the wrong century. She is currently at work on a medieval
fantasy trilogy of epic proportions.
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What‘s Your Social Media Personality?
By Melody Jones
The persona you project through social media can make it or break it for you. You can do
all the right things like posting consistently and engaging with fans, but if you are boring or
you roller-coaster through different personality styles, people will break up with you.
And breaking up is hard to do.
You can increase fan retention and draw new fans simply be establishing a consistent
online personality that people will associate with your brand or author platform. Are you a
homespun country wisdom type? Authoritative and professional? Edgy with a touch of
sarcasm? Charming and witty? Informal and fun? Urban and intense?
If you feel unsure about your social media personality type, try this exercise suggested by Phillip Davis of
Social Media Examiner. Compare your brand to a type of car, a hotel chain, a favorite author, a television
show or movie, or even nature to see which one best represents you. Are you a well-loved old Volkswagen
Beetle or a substantial shiny new Hummer? Motel 6 or a luxury spa resort in Tahiti? Shakespeare or Stephen
King? M*A*S*H or Criminal Intent? Mt. Vesuvius or Mt. Rushmore?
Once you’ve honed in on your style, you’ll have more success if you keep a few pointers in mind on using your
social media personality effectively.
1. Be authentic.
Be yourself. Be open, conversational, responsive, respectful, and engaged. No matter what your
personality type is, be real. Fans love getting to know the person behind the platform. Do show some
restraint with radical opinion unless your platform is equally radical – then go for it.
2. Be flexible.
Share your latest event or piece of news, but also post relevant photographs, quotes, videos, and thirdparty content that your particular set of fans would enjoy. Comment on them to spark conversation.
3. Be responsive.
Interact when people comment, share your information, and ask questions. If a fan leaves negative
feedback, respond to them quickly and respectfully. Even if that fan cannot be satisfied, others are
watching and will view you positively for addressing the issue. If you encounter a fan who becomes
hostile, uses profanity, and wreaks havoc, delete them from your social media account. And don’t feel
bad about it.
Figuring out your social media personality and using it consistently will draw fans and keep them there. You
want them to stick around because when the next big thing happens – like a new book published – your loyal
fans will buy your book and tell other people via social media.
Now get out there and be social, edgy Mt. Vesuvius in a black and silver Hummer.
Melody Jones, owner of Melody Jones | Social Media Management Services, takes care of the day-to-day
so you don’t have to. She’s your social media aspirin, here to make managing an author’s social media
presence as painless as possible. Working from a philosophy of partnership, Melody knows the most successful results begin with clear communication and offers an extensive initial consultation designed to gain a
thorough understanding of client mission, goals, marketing strategy, social media efforts, frustrations, and
successes. To connect with Melody, join her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/melodysocialmedia.
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26
Soggy Saga – Oh No! My Cell Phone Fell Into The_???#&@
... What To Do About a Wet Cell Phone
Don’t Panic. Just because your cell phone fell into a) a bowl of water, b) the swimming pool, or c) the toilet
(yuck!) doesn’t mean all is lost, particularly if it wasn’t wet for very long.
It could happen to anyone. Yes, it even happened here at Top Hat Techs. Always looking for a way to turn a
lemon into lemonade, we used this as an opportunity to test our theories on reviving a wet cell phone. And yes,
it was successful.
One of the great fears of cell phone users is dropping the phone in water or otherwise getting it soaked. Water
damage is almost never covered by warranty. Important note: cell phones have internal moisture sensors that
indicate the phone has been in water.
What do you do? In the frenzy of trying to find a solution, certain things that might come to mind should be
avoided because they could damage the phone further or even be dangerous. So first, let’s start with a list of
the things that you shouldn’t do.
DON’T
•
•
•
•
•
turn it on.
use a hair dryer on it (too much heat and may blow water further into nooks and crannies).
set it in direct sunlight – sunlight can be too hot.
try to dry it in the oven – this could be dangerous.
use a microwave to try to dry your phone.
•
•
•
•
•
•
remove the phone from the water as quickly as possible. As noted above, don’t turn it on.
DO
remove the battery.
remove the SIM card, if applicable.
remove the case, covers, connectors, and anything else attached to the phone.
rinse it gently with fresh water to remove the salt water if the phone was in salt water (salt can be corrosive).
use a towel (preferably a cloth towel as opposed to a paper towel, which can leave residue) to gently wipe
off visible moisture from the phone, battery, etc.
• bury the phone in uncooked rice in a Tupperware or other air tight container, and put the top on the container
to seal it, leaving it for a day or more. This sucks the moisture out of it.
• re-insert the battery and try turning on the phone after 24 hours. If this doesn’t work, remove the
battery, connect it to the charger, and try again. If it turns on, you need a new battery.
• take it to an authorized dealer if this doesn’t work. Tell them what happened. They might be able to revive it.
The above steps provide a quick, basic guide for bringing a wet phone back to life. Those so inclined can disassemble
the phone and attempt to remove excess moisture. As a preventative measure, a waterproof case is available for
some phones, though they may be bulky. If 24/7 phone service is essential, consider buying a cheap phone for emergency use in case your main phone becomes disabled.
Providing computer support for individuals and small business, including everything from purchase, setup, networking, security, virus removal, and repair to
recycling. We also provide website set up and maintenance. We provide
On-site Service , or, if you prefer, pickup and delivery for no additional charge.
Call for up to 15 Minutes of Free phone consultation. Contact John Melton at
720-425-8889 or [email protected] or www.TopHatTechs.com
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27
Dealing with the Author Overwhelm and Stuck Factors
Judith Briles, Author U Founder
Wouldn’t you love to be able to pick up a pen/pencil or open a blank document on your
computer and breeze through the article or chapter you are thinking about … basically
having it completed within a short period of time? Or how about Astructuring the marketing program you’ve been thinking about for the past six months, but somehow summer
got in the way? Your desk is clear—calendar open and there are no hiccups or obstacles
to block your creative waves … yet … yet, it’s just not flowing.
If you are feeling a tad overwhelmed … or just plain blocked on going forward, try
these tips to get you back on track:
1. Take a piece of paper and divide it into four sections. In the upper left, label it ASAP—those are the
items that you need, really need to deal with. In the upper right, put 7 Days—what items do you have to
address within the next seven days—the order of importance is not relevant. In the lower left, write 30
Days—what items/events do you need to tackle within the next month? And in the last section, label it
Future. There’s no rush in dealing with any of them.
Now, go back to the first ASAP section—those items need to be dealt with … one option is merely to
cross one or several off the list with a decision that they can’t be dealt with and are in the wrong box.
Items in the 30 Days box are to be ignored for now, as is the Future and 7 Days. You are dealing with
ASAP. Stay focused—it’s so much easier to acknowledge that you can’t deal/do something in the here
and now but can address it next week … than let next week arrive. Meanwhile, the ASAP list gets whittled
down.
2. Review what you’ve already created/done. Sometimes just a review will create the goose that can
lay your golden egg. That idea that got buried may be stimulated; the scribbly notes you made all of a
sudden make sense; or the original idea you had may take on a whole new dimension because you’ve let
it sit in a form of a stew for awhile.
3. It’s gaze in the belly button time. What’s up? Any thoughts on why you’ve been stuck or chosen not
to go forward with your article, book, work … what? Acknowledge issues preventing you from moving
forward. Maybe you don’t love the topic or subject any longer. Maybe there’s been breaking news or a
morphing in the field that has altered your views. Maybe the hero of your story is really a dud. No matter
what, look in the mirror and have a chat with yourself. One of my favorite Keepers is—Don’t do well what
you have no business doing. If your work is involving to pulling teeth … your own, stop it. It’s not fun any
longer.
4. Review your goals and game plan. Already … did you ever have any? That’s part of the gaze in the
belly button time. Good idea to start here. Goal setting can get you back in the frame of mind that you
initially had when you started your authoring venture. If you hadn’t, stop and do it. I can get blue in the
face reminding you that you’ve got have the Vision for what you are doing coupled with the Passion for the
project and the Commitment to see it through. When you do run into a hiccup, you’ve set up the game
plan that get you started in the first place. Much easier to cross over the hurdles that pop up.
5. Plan a reward for yourself. I’m the first to admit—I’ve been known to start here. Okay … if I finish this
chapter, I get an entire bag of M & Ms—a big one … and I’ve done that (you’ve heard of “baby fat”? This
is “book fat”! If I finish this book … I get an entire month off of reading any business books and I get to
Continued on page 28 ....
The Resource
28
Author Overwhelm: Continued from page 27 ....
ready trashy novels—murder mysteries for 30 days in a row. If I finish this, I’m booking a cruise to a warm
place. If I complete this article, I get to … you get the picture. Rewards and incentives work. Everyone has
different ones that they march to. Find yours. Write them down. And honor them. Just having something
you want—even a trivial Snickers or a night of watching reruns of Grey’s Anatomy qualifies—may be the
perk you need to get you back on track.
6. Escape to the familiar or unfamiliar … just escape. I don’t have the gift of the novelist. Oh, I’ve
worked with authors who wear the fiction hat—tweaking their words and getting the storylines to flow. I
dearly love a great story; yet I don’t have the creative gene that starts the fiction writer’s journey—that
sometimes wild ass idea that delivers magic to the eyes of the reader. What I do know is that when I’m
stuck and I pick up something else, leaving my “get this finished” work alone for a day or two, it’s amazing
how my own creative juices can salivate with ideas that get kick-started with something totally unrelated.
Kind of like take a shower and all of a sudden the “aha” drops in as the hot water pounds on your shoulders.
The something else can be fiction … it can be non-fiction … it can be related to your specific genre. The
trick is to let another voice come in … think of it as a muse swirling around you … waiting to be invited into
your mind and expressed through your finger tips.
7. Know what your writing environment is. I’m always amused when I listen to an interview with an
author who proclaims that getting up at four every morning and writing for four straight hours is the way to
be a successful author. Really? It sure isn’t mine. Not that I’m not averse to getting up if that’s what the
body is saying to do … what I rebel against is someone else telling me how I should write—the time
frames, the place, the anything.
I’m a binge writer—have always been; most likely, will always be. I spend days, weeks, even months
discussing it in my head; gathering tidbits of info that I’ve dropped into a “just in case” file or an expandable file that is actually split up in chapters that will be in the “book.” When I move into my writing mode—
it’s fast, furious and usually on target. I can bang out a first draft of a book in a short period of time. No
one … and I mean no one … is allowed in private office space when I move into that frame—it’s as if
there is a yellow crime scene tape across the French doors to my space. Music is on in the background …
my “reward” is close by and the fingers are ready.
Authors have habits … find the ones that work for you, not someone else. Tell those who come into your
space your “rules,” your “habits”—and that include kids. Too many times, when you are at work, you may
be the only one that understands that. Education is in order.
Judith Briles is The Book Shepherd. As the Founder of Author U, her vision has been to create programs
and environment that is dedicated to the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She works
with authors at all stages in the development, creation, publishing and marketing of their books.
www.TheBookShepherd.com, mailto:[email protected]
REMEMBER: Visit www.AuthorU.org often and check out the Members
Area - Benefits, Special Events and Information are updated often!
The Resource
29
Writing a Press Release That Grabs Them! Part 1
By Jackie Lapin
For many entrepreneurs, the most difficult challenge in marketing is writing a press release.
This is an intimating task for someone who doesn’t write journalistic-style copy on a regular
basis. Even if you have a great grasp of grammar and punctuation, there’s still the matter of
what to write and how to write it…writer’s block, anyone?
So here is a short primer to help make the task easier in two parts.
1. Breathe! You don’t have to hit send until you’ve gotten lots of feedback from other people you know.
—
So take it easy and just start putting words on paper.
2. Create a bullet-point outline – Get all the essential information on paper so you know what you want to
say. It doesn’t have to be in any order. That will come later. But just get it all on one or two sheets of
paper so you can easily see it all within your visual frame. This will allow you to scan it, easily figuring
out what you still have to work into the release. Highlight with yellow anything you’ve already used so
eventually the whole sheet will be yellow.
3. The Headline and Font – You can write your headline first or last. I prefer first because it summarizes
where I want to go with the release. Make it clever, eye-catching, or informative—or a mix of all three.
You can use more than one headline. I like to use one underlined and bold main headline, followed by
an italicized bold subhead (not underlined) that gives more information. If a third headline deck is
required to get in all the key information I need to make sure it reaches the right eyeballs, I make this
one un-bolded, but underlined, and smaller than the other two. Generally, the lead headline should be
size 12 or 14 point font. And the body copy should be 11. My preferred font is Ariel because it is simple
and professional.
Headlines can be a question, a statement of fact, a provocative declaration. They can be a summary
of the content, ironic, amusing, intriguing, motivating, or empowering. They should not be grammatically incorrect, misspelled, dull, trivial, or have more than one exclamation point.
4. The Lead – The lead is the “heart” of your release. You will have only a moment to catch an editor’s
interest. If he doesn’t get past the lead, it’s over! Your lead must first be relevant to what that editor or
his readership/viewership/listenership needs or wants to know. But it can again be a simple, wellcrafted statement of the news, or it can be more compelling—a question; a bold, surprising statement
previously unknown to the media; a story that tugs your heart; a pun; a humorous juxtaposition of
phrases; an expression of something that points out the need of what you offer…whatever reels in the
reader without writing a novel. Never open a release with something like: “Such and such event will
take place on this day…” Always use action verbs, not passive verbs. Your opening graph should be no
more than four to seven lines of copy.
5. The Structure – While, yes, the “who, what, where, when, and why” ideally should be worked into the
opening paragraphs, they don’t need to be overstuffed into the beginning like a sausage. You can
weave these throughout the release as long as the most critical items are at the top—such as the date
of an event that’s upcoming. Your release should flow—with the information from the paragraph above
logically leading into the information in the paragraph below. Find ways to transition from one topic into
the next without making it abrupt. Move graphs around until all the information is revealed logically.
Continued on page 30 ....
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Writing A Press Release: Continued from p age 29 ....
1. Grammar and Punctuation – Forget all the things you learned about texting and abbreviating phrases.
Here is where you spell it correctly and clearly, assuming that your reader only understands plain
English. Be cognizant of your spelling and punctuation, and certainly run your spell checker as a
backup. Re-read and proof-read numerous times to make sure you haven’t overlooked anything. To
make things flow, you don’t have to start every sentence with a noun and follow with a verb. Try inverting clauses, putting in introductory clauses, and mixing up the sentence structure. Only capitalize
REAL words that require capitals—company names, people’s names, product name, city and states,
etc. Don’t create false capitals to put emphasis on a division or an industry category, etc. A good
simple source on journalistic punctuation and grammar is Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. Pay
special attention to use of commas!
2. They vs. It –This is the most egregious mistake in journalism, often even made by PR professionals.
The name of a company or an organization is an IT, not a THEY! No matter how many people work
there or are in the group, it is still a
single element. This would be
incorrect: Sony will offer their top
DVDs at wholesale pricing. It would
be correct, however, to say: Sony
will offer its top DVDs at wholesale
pricing. One way to correct this
problem would be to say: Executives at Sony say they will offer
their top DVDs at wholesale pricing. You’ve specified a group of
people at the company or the
leaders of the company, and then
you can use the plural pronoun.
Happy Writing!
Next month, I’ll cover Steps 8 – 14.
Jackie Lapin’s Conscious Media
Relations creates Radio Media Tours
especially for authors, speakers, and coaches
by offering them to an exclusive list of more
than 700 radio hosts who seek interviews with
leaders in the personal development industry.
For more information go to
www.PersonalDevelopmentRadioMediaTour.com
or call 818 707-1473.
Author U clients receive a $500 discount!
The Resource
31
TIPS
Waterproof Your Phone—No Case Required!
Meet Liquipel, a company that uses a patent-pending process to waterproof phones. You
know the scenario: You’re fiddling with your phone near a sink, the toilet, or some large
body of water when suddenly you lose your grip … and kerplunk. The horror of it all! Your
handset is now just a soggy paperweight. Ick.
You pay $60; the company takes your handset, places it in a chamber and sucks the air
out. A special chemical vapor is pumped in and, using what Liquipel describes as “technology that’s only found on the surface of the sun” it’s bonded to your phone on a molecular level. The result
is a completely waterproof device (splash it, dunk it, immerse it) that has no perceptible difference in look and
feel — the coating is a thousand times thinner than a human hair.
http://www.liquipel.com / Video / http://bit.ly/xeHov0
Looking for publicity ... free? Here’s another good source—well organized delivered
to your email box daily—Steve and Bill Harrison’s Reporter Connection.
http://www.reporterconnection.com/joinfree/
Are You Using SmashWords? IF so, think about eBook gifting. Smashwords
has joined Amazon, B&N, and Kobo offering a way to give your eBook (or any book) as a
gift. Simply click to the book you want to gift, and click the “give as gift” button feature.
The shopping cart asks you for the recipient’s name and email address. A hyperlink is
sent with the announcement of your gift. If the person is already logged in to their
Smashwords account, the book will appear in his/her Smashwords Library. If not, the
person will be prompted to register. http://bit.ly/rvCUWh
Did you know that February 19th is Chocolate Mint Day? Get the Publicity
Planner for 2012 from Paul Krupin or Direct Contact PR—it’s clever and well-organized. Paul is a master at creating snappy PR. Each year, he creates a publicity calendar
that’s a freebie via a PDF download. Use it to tie into your leads and events. His contact
info is: http://www.DirectContactPR.com and [email protected] Follow his
blog at: http://Blog.DirectContactPR.com / Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/xpME2U
Create a Table of Appearance ...
If you have any artwork, figures, or tables that you will be inserting in that layout of your book
... please, please help the layout/interior designer. Create a list similar to your Table of Contents for the designer—and within your manuscript, write “insert _______” that matches what
is in the Table of Appearance. Your interior designer will be happy and so will you—the right
table, photo, graphic is placed. Guaranteed—this will save time and money.
The Resource
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TIPS
Help your AuthorU members on Amazon ... Amazon is your friend. Getting
5-Star Reviews is important on Amazon. To you, your buyers, and to Amazon. Whenever
you hear of a new book popping, get ye to Amazon and post a 5-Star Review. Don’t be
shy ... ask your colleagues and fellow authors to do the same for you. Amazon pays
attention—once they start to accumulate, Amazon cross promotes your book with others.
Think of it as a quid-pro-quo. You are welcome!
Tumblr has created a division that specializes in outreach to authors, publishers, and
literary organizations. Rachel Fershleiser invites writers and publishing professionals
interested in using Tumblr tools to contact her at [email protected]
Smart PR Tool for Newswire Distribution: ARC Engagement Platform
Access, Reach, Connect is what the ARC Engagement Platform is: an “all-in-one” tool for
automatically distributing text and multimedia content across social networks, top 100
video sites and about 6,000 media outlets.
Think of it as an “add” to all the other news release into that PR Newswire does. If you are
looking for a press release-style distribution strategy, ARC appears to provide flexibility,
allowing users to dynamically update content once distributed. http://prn.to/Az7wHe
TubeMogul OneLoad: Video Distribution
TubeMogul calls itself, “The most powerful video distribution and tracking solution available.” Whether that’s hyperbole or not, the service is free, flexible and powerful enough
that social video baron Gary Vaynerchuk plugs it relentlessly in his book Crush It.
In short, OneLoad allows users to upload a video once, then automatically distribute it
across a wide network of popular social and video networks. Users can then track their
video’s success (or lack thereof) across those networks, using TubeMogul analytics.
StumbleUpon: Paid Social Distribution
For inexpensive and hopefully viral pay-per-click content distribution, the standby for many
marketers and publishers is StumbleUpon, a social network that serves users page after
page of “random” content from around the web. Cost per click starts in the pennies and
goes up from there, depending on volume and category.
The traffic comes from StumbleUpon’s website or browser toolbar; therefore, readership is
less predictable and more bounce-inclined than other sources.
The Resource
33
TIPS
A quick safe tip on solar lights
Have you ever lost power and need lights ... to write? Candle power may not be
enough. Here’s a quick tip that can allow you to continue and aid when the electric
company has a hiccup, and there is a power outage. Think solar. All those solar
lights we put in our gardens can be put into an empty plastic drinking bottle via a solar
stick light (plenty of sources on the Internet). All you need is the mini panel and the
element to create an emergency light stash. Leave outside and let the sun charge during
the day. If you need to weight them a bit, add marbles, sand, rocks.
Pay attention to your Twitter timing. Did you know you have the highest odds of
getting a retweet at 5 p.m.? That you can get a higher click-through rate by tweeting one
to four times per hour? Of course, it all depends on your talkers, but you’d be amazed at
how much research* is available to help you get more people sharing your Twitter content. * http://bit.ly/z25vDd
www.DenverEditor.com
Mentoring Authors Who Care about Excellence
The Resource
34
So What Are We Doing with It?
Editorial by Linda Lane
As I edited the articles for this month’s issue of the Author U publishing ezine, I pondered its name—The Resource—and the incredible wealth of information that filled
each page. Every issue is jam-packed with articles that touch all facets of our industry
from book concept through completion to publishing, marketing, and cash in the
pocket. Our ezine is aptly named, for it’s assuredly “the resource” for all things writing
and publishing.
Consider the articles that Judith Briles writes for every issue. She has long since paid
her dues in the publishing industry, and the knowledge she has accumulated and
willingly shares with us is worth its weight in gold, as the cliché goes. Her lead articles, other contributions, and oversight of this publication assure that we get the
most accurate, up-to-date information available as she spoon feeds us with a high-nutrition publishing diet
that can lead to our healthy success if we just pay attention and apply what we learn.
What else does the ezine bring to us in each issue? Penny Sansevieri, an internationally recognized book
marketing and media relations expert, regularly imparts a plethora of marketing information that we all
need. Also, The Resource announces Kelly Johnson’s Tech Tool Box presentations that offer three hours
of intense learning to take us from frustrated, bumbling Internet amateurs to professional, effective users
of the myriad Internet tools at our disposal. The Top Hat Techs bring us computer support and ongoing
bits of invaluable information as we learn to take greater advantage of the worldwide marketplace open to
us and our books in the vastness of cyberspace. “Member News” reminds us that independently published writers do succeed…and on a regular basis.
Marty Dickinson’s piece in this issue—the first in his new Marty’s Corner column—deserves not only a
first, but also a second and third read. Why? We too often fall into a habit of excuse making. Now if I have
one finger pointing at you, remember that I have at least three pointing back at me. I can think up excuses
as fast as anyone. “The Internet overwhelms me. I can’t navigate it.” “I don’t know how to build a website.”
“Twitter? Never!” “Facebook isn’t for me. Somebody filled my wall with foul language, so I deactivated my
account and won’t ever use it again.” “LinkedIn sounded like a great idea, so I joined. But I don’t have time
to use it.” “I never have been and never will be a good marketer. I don’t know how to be a salesperson,
and I don’t want to learn.” “I live too far from Denver to make the Author U meetings and salons.” The list
goes on and on.
We belong to a powerful, current, leader-of-the-pack organization and have at our fingertips one of the
best, most comprehensive book publishing ezines available anywhere. The features mentioned here are
only a few that come to us in every issue of The Resource. So what are we doing with it? Are we using
this great “resource” to the full?
Linda Lane mentors writers. After years of working as a book editor, she has chosen to teach writers to
write well to save them money and propel them along the road to publishing success. She and her team
work with writers from numerous genres in both English and Spanish. Visit her at www.denvereditor.com.
The Resource
35
17 Fun Freebies that Build Thought Leadership
By Joan Stewart, the Publicity Hound
If you’re a smart marketer, you know that the easiest sale of all is a sale to someone who already knows, likes, and trusts you.
One of the best ways to create loyalty long before a customer buys from you and to
position yourself as a thought leader is to offer a valuable freebie that ties into your
topic. A free ebook, White Paper, quiz, special report, or a calculator can be a
convenient way to enhance your expertise, position yourself as the go-to expert in
your field, and generate free publicity for your company.
Journalists and bloggers love telling their readers about these freebies. Readers
love getting them, and they’re eager to share the goodies with their friends and
followers on the social media sites.
Why Freebies Are Like Gold
Smart marketers know that these give-aways are a perfect way to bring people into a product funnel.
From a free special report, you can up-sell readers to a $27 eBook – and after the eBook, up-sell them
again to a $197 event or consulting services.
This is why it’s imperative to include a strong call to action–such as “Call for a free estimate….”–from
each freebie.
Or…don’t sell them anything. Force them to opt in with their name and email address. Congratulations –
they’re now on your email list. You have plenty of time later to milk the cow once you get it into the barn.
Here, then, are 17 items to consider giving away and examples of how other companies and nonprofits
use them:
i.
Assessment Test - LiveCareer, a career site, offers a free career assessment test 1 in
exchange for your email address. The assessment helps you understand whether or not a specific
job is the right match for you.
ii.
Audio Recording – The National Association of Tax Professionals offers a free 60-second
audio recording2 filled with tips on changes in the rules for tax preparers and how to find one at tax
time. People can then complete a form3 at the website that lets them search the NATP Member
Directory.
iii.
Comparison Chart – Peter E. Randall Publisher, LLC, a subsidy book publisher, offers a
comparison chart4 that gives authors an understanding of different publishing options. The chart
saves time when fielding inquiries from random authors who are unaware of the difference between a trade house and a subsidy house, such as Peter E. Randall, and self-publishing.
iv.
Cost Reduction Guide – Hitachi, one of the UK’s leading vehicle specialists, offers a free
11-page PDF titled “Reduce Your Fleet Costs in Nine Simple Steps5.” Many of the steps include
strong calls to action: “Request your free fleet funding and policy review by emailing…”
... continued on page 36
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Fun Freebies: Continued from page 35 ....
v.
Dictionaries (Industry Specific) – Accounting Institute Seminars offers a dictionary of
auditing terms6. You’ll also find a Glossary of Whiskey Terms, a Children’s Astronomy Glossary
from NASA, and hundreds of other dictionaries at YourDictionary.com, many of them sponsored.
vi.
eBook -Profitable Hospitality7, which provides profit strategies for hotels, clubs, and restaurants, gives away a free eBook on 489 Ways to Cut Costs in Restaurants, Cafes, Clubs, Catering
& Hotels8. It forces visitors to opt in and asks them to check one or more boxes to identify the kinds
of businesses they manage. What a great way to segment their list!
vii.
Email Course – I offer a free course, “89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases 9.” The
89 lessons (some long, some short) are like a graduate-level course in press releases. Most lessons, one delivered each day via autoresponder, include links to product pages at my website or to
pages where I sell other people’s related products or services for a commission. More than 6,000
people have taken the course.
viii. Formulas – In exchange for an email address, Blogger Chris Garrett gives away a fivepage PDF that lists 102 headline10 writing formulas perfect for articles, press releases, blog posts,
a sales page at your website, or a paid ad. Example: “Get Rid of Your ___________ Once and For
All.” That link, by the way, already has been retweeted more than 770 times!
ix.
Help Sheet – WPCandy.com, experts in WordPress blogs, created the WordPress Help
Sheet11 and the Advanced WordPress Help Sheet12. These help sheets are packed with PHP
snippets, basic template files, and other helpful information for novices or programmers. Both have
been translated into several languages, allowing the company to become better known to the rest
of the world.
x.
Practice Test – Sporty’s Pilot Shop, which sells a wide variety of supplies for pilots, also
has a flight school. At their website, you can take a practice test13 for the FAA written test to get
your pilot’s license.
xi.
Reference Chart – Casino expert Bill Burton offers a handy printed Craps Reference Chart14
that explains simple bets, the house edge, and the payoff for each bet. It can be folded to fit easily in a
shirt pocket. The inside of the chart looks like the craps table layout as an added bonus.
xii.
Return-on-investment Calculator – The George Washington University Medical Center
offers an Alcohol Cost Calculator15 that helps businesses learn how much they can save in health
care costs when employees have access to alcoholism or alcohol abuse treatment.
xiii. Slide Chart - Slide charts are similar to slide rules. You match up a moving or sliding scale
with pre-printed calculations on a fixed scale to obtain an answer simply and quickly. Surprisingly
complex answers or calculations can be provided with this simple, entertaining format. At
www.AmericanSlideChart.com, you can fill out a form for a sample slide chart.
xiv.
Study Guides – At PinkMonkey.com, you can read more than 460 free study guides, book
notes, book reviews and online chapter summaries, or buy printed versions.
xv.
Test Drive – The Gift List, a subscription service, provides contact information for more than
250 top daily public advertising media channels that are planning features on consumer products that
would make great gifts. Before you subscribe to the service, you can take a test drive16.
... continued from page 36
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Fun Freebies: Continued from p age 36 ....
xvi. Trouble-shooting Guide – Techies love this one. Practically Networked, a website for IT
professionals, has a variety of troubleshooting guides17 for networking problems.
xvii. Video – Will It Blend? is arguably the most famous series of videos that have sold a consumer product. The videos–which feature their industrial-strength blenders demolishing golf balls,
glow sticks, rake handles, and even the head of a skeleton–went viral so quickly that the littleknown company received mega-publicity and mega-sales. Their iPhone app has been downloaded
more than 100 million times.
Tips to Help You Promote It
Once you decide on the kind of freebie you want to offer, make sure you devote a unique landing page to it so
you can track your traffic and conversion. Don’t link to your homepage and expect people to hunt for it.
You can use these freebies in conjunction with a new product launch, an email promotion, a pay-per-click
campaign, or simply to generate a little publicity.
Let the world know what you’re giving away. Write a press release. Share it on the social media sites. Pitch
bloggers. Buy pay-per-click ads. Create a video for YouTube. And don’t forget to pitch traditional media.
Show this list to your team, and brainstorm fun ways to use freebies in your multi-channel marketing. The
most difficult part of the exercise will be settling on just one.
###
Publicity expert Joan Stewart, aka The Publicity Hound, helps people promote any product, service,
cause, or issue using traditional media and social media. She shares tips like these in her free weekly
ezine, The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the Week. Sign up for her tips at PublicityHound.com. She also
shares hundreds of free PR resources on Twitter at Twitter.com/PublicityHound.
1. Career assessment test: http://bit.ly/wtYKFX
2. 60 Second Audio Recording: http://bit.ly/xXauJU
3. Complete a Form: http://bit.ly/zBNHt8
4. Comparison Chart: http://bit.ly/zZfd3E
5. Reduce Your Fleet Costs: http://bit.ly/xCAkTH
6. Auditing Dictionary of Terms: http://bit.ly/wTIGdY
7. Profitable Hospitality: http://bit.ly/AvW7jg
8. 489 Ways to Cut Costs: http://on.fb.me/yvcNiy
9. 89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases: http://bit.ly/x771kY
10. 02 Headline Writing Formulas: http://bit.ly/x9MNE5
11. WordPress Help: http://bit.ly/wSx96c
12. Advanced WordPress Help Sheet: http://bit.ly/wSx96c
13. FAA Written Pilot’s Test: http://bit.ly/A4na42
14. Craps Reference Chart: http://bit.ly/yeWWWx
15. Alcohol Cost Calculator: http://bit.ly/zbicAk
16. The Gift List Test Drive: http://bit.ly/ydrjEK
The Resource
38
Imagine a gathering of some of world’s most sought after marketing and publishing experts ready to give
you the “keys to the kingdom” to
•
•
•
•
•
•
get your book published,
sell your book to a publisher,
promote yourself using low-cost means online,
to catapult your sales & exposure,
make your book a bestseller,
transform your business into a mega success.
It’s not a dream. In fact, that’s what you can expect at the upcoming Author101 University event coming to
Los Angeles Mar 1-4, 2012.
Get more details here: http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/?af=128950
You’ll hear top publishing and marketing experts reveal tools and techniques to get your book published
and double or triple your income as an author or publisher.
Speakers include...
BRENDON BURCHARD
TOM ANTION
RICK FRISHMANSCOTT HOFFMAN
MARILYN HOROWITZ
WENDY LIPTON-DIBNER
PETER HOPPENFELD
KEN ATCHITY
BRUCE BARBOUR
HOBIE HOBART
JUDITH BRILES
GARY GOLDSTEIN
JIM KWIK
STEFANIE HARTMAN
MICHAEL KOENIGS
Experts Academy and NY Times #1 Author
Internet guru
Publicity and publishing expert
Mega literary agent
Hollywood Writing Coach
Speaking Expert and Best Selling Author
Literary attorney and agent
Literary Manager and Movie Producer
Mega Literary Manager
Branding Expert
Book Shepherd and Consultant
Hollywood Producer (Pretty Woman)
Memory and Internet Expert
International Marketing Strategist
Producer, Trainer, Internet expert
and many others to be announced!
There will also be many agents, editors, and publishers on special panels, looking to meet you and willing
to share their coveted industry secrets. Meet and greet with agents on Saturday and Sunday morning.
They are looking for you!
The last Author 101 University Seminar sold out weeks before the event!This event sells out every year,
so sign up now and BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE!!!